ISLAMABAD: A spokesman of the Ministry of Law & Justice today contradicted a news item published in a section of press alleging the absence of Law Minister Barrister Dr. Muhammad Farogh Naseem from the meeting of Functional Committee on Govt. Assurances.

He said that even some Urdu dailies had also linked the resignation by the former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani from the membership of the Functional Committee with the absence of the Law Minister, said a press release. The spokesman clarified that on January 9, the Minister participated in the 1st meeting of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs at 1400 hours.

He said when the members of the Functional Committee objected regarding Farogh Naseem’s absence, Secretary Law Abdul Shakoor Paracha informed Committee Chairman Senator Muhammad Tahir Khan Bizinjo that the Minister was tied up due to a commitment made earlier, he said. Furthermore, he said the reports that Senator Raza Rabbani resigned from the membership of the Committee is factually incorrect since the Senator was never a member of the said body and was not even present during the meeting.